Wood conditioner with antiseptic properties

ABSTRACT

Composition and method for simultaneously disinfecting and conditioning a wooden cutting surface, such as a cutting board or counter top. According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a mixture of ethanol and food-grade mineral oil where the ethanol is present in an amount sufficient impart antiseptic properties. To the extent desired, other adjuvants, such as flavor enhancers, coloring agents, and the like may be added. The method comprises contacting the wooden cutting surface with such composition for a time sufficient to enable the ethanol to adequately disinfect the cutting surface. Preferably, such method may be performed by merely spraying or wiping the composition directly onto the wooden cutting surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wooden cutting boards for cutting food are well-known and utilizedextensively. In this regard, such cutting boards provide a solid,heavy-duty surface upon which food items, and in particular vegetables,fruits, and meats, can be cut to desired dimensions or portions.Advantageously, the wood surface provides sufficient durability to serveas a cutting surface without damaging the steel knife blades typicallyutilized to cut the food items. Indeed, but for the typical wear andtear associated with repeated cuttings, wooden cutting boards can beused indefinitely. Along these lines, due to the attractiveness anddurability of wood, such cutting boards are frequently incorporated ascountertop surfaces in kitchens and the like to thus provide a readilyaccessible surface upon which food may be cut.

Notwithstanding their advantages, wooden cutting boards and counter topssuffer from numerous drawbacks. Perhaps most serious of such drawbacksis the ability of such counter top surfaces to harbor communicablediseases capable of causing food poisoning. As is well-known, due to theporous nature of wood—coupled with the repetition by which the samecomes into contact with raw food—serious and sometimes life-threateningfood poisoning can be caused by a variety of pathogens that exist uponsuch surfaces. Examples of such pathogens include escherichia coli,normally found in undercooked and/or ground red meat; salmonella, whichis typically found in chicken meat products; spiralis, found in raw orinadequately cooked or processed pork or pork products responsible andfor causing trichinosis; and hepatitis A virus, responsible forproducing hepatitis A, which may be found in contaminated raw shellfish. To a lesser extent, such surfaces can facilitate communicablediseases transmitted via person to person. For example, influenza andammonia are but two of a multitude of dehabilitating conditions causedby pathogens that can exist and be transmitted across wooden cuttingsurfaces.

While disinfectants and anti-microbial cleaners are well-known andreadily available to disinfect such wood cutting surfaces, the use ofsuch cleaning compositions is typically undesirable. In this regard,such compositions frequently employ harsh cleaning agents that, althougheffective in killing microorganisms, are toxic in and of themselves. Assuch, it is often necessary to immediately rinse off the wood cuttingsurfaces or wash away the residues left by such cleaners following theirapplication, which in essence requires that such surfaces be cleanedtwice. Furthermore, great care must be exercised in utilizing suchcleaners so that the same are not inadvertently applied to foodsubstances that are placed in close proximity to such cutting surfaces.

Separate and apart from the potential toxicities of such cleaning agentsare the deleterious effects the same have on the wood itself. Because oftheir caustic nature, most cleaning agents in use can and frequently dodry-out the wood surface and cause the same to assume unsightlyappearance over time. In this regard, such cleaning agents, includingnon-toxic cleaning agents such as regular soap, cause wood to fade andeventually become brittle. The latter effect is especially problematicinsofar as the brittleness imparted to the wood causes the wood to losestrength over time. As such, when subjected to repeated cuttings, thewood can and does scratch more easily and can even splinter in certaincircumstances.

Accordingly, there is a substantial need in the art for a compositionand method for disinfecting a wooden cutting board or countertop that,in addition to effectively eradicating potentially disease-causingpathogens, further preserves and protect the underlying wood cuttingsurface. There is further a need in the art for such a composition andmethod that is non-toxic and safe for the environment. Moreover, thereis a need in the art for such a composition and method that, in additionto the foregoing properties, is relatively inexpensive to manufacture,is of simple formulation, and may be readily produced usingcommercially-available materials.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention specifically addresses and alleviates theabove-identified deficiencies in the art. In this regard, the presentinvention is directed to a composition and method for simultaneouslydisinfecting and conditioning a wood cutting surface. Advantageously,the composition and method of the present invention safely and easilycause a wooden cutting surface to be readily disinfected but withoutsubjecting the wood to oxidizing compounds that would otherwise causethe same to dry out and assume an unsightly appearance, as doconventional cleaning agents and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a mixtureof ethanol in combination with food-grade mineral oil. The compositionis preferably formed such that the ethanol is present in an amountsufficient to provide antiseptic properties, with the remainderconstituting the mineral oil. Presently, it is believed that the ethanolcomponent may be present in an amount from 40% to 99% by volume, withthe mineral oil being present in an amount from 60% to 1% by volume. Ina more highly preferred embodiment, the ethanol is present in an amountfrom 60 to 90% by volume with the mineral oil being present in acorresponding amount of 30 to 10% by volume. In a most highly preferredembodiment, the ethanol component is present in an amount ranging from65% to 85% whereas the mineral oil component is present in an amountfrom 35% to 15% by volume. To the extent desired, additional componentsmay be added, such as a flavor enhancer, coloring agent, preservative,buffering agent, anti-oxidant, fragrance, and/or sequestering agent, toname a few. Water may additionally be added to the extent necessary toproduce a desired concentration of the composition.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide acomposition and method for disinfecting a wooden cutting surface that,rather than harming the wood as a result of such disinfecting process,preserves and conditions the wood to thus enhance the care thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition andmethod for disinfecting a wooden cutting surface that can rapidlyeradiate substantially all pathogens present upon a wooden cuttingsurface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition andmethod for disinfecting a wooden cutting surface that can effectivelyeradicate pathogens present on a cutting surface that is of minimaltoxicity to humans and poses no threat to the environment.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composition andmethod for disinfecting a wooden cutting surface that can increase thelifespan of the wooden cutting surface.

Still further object of the present invention is to provide acomposition and method for disinfecting a wooden cutting surface that iseasy to utilize, may be readily formulated from existing materials, isinexpensive to formulate, and is substantially safer, more efficient andless expensive then prior art compositions and methods.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description ofthe presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intendedto represent the only form in which the present invention may beconstructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions andsequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It isto be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions andsequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they arealso intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention.

The present invention is directed to a composition and method forsimultaneously disinfecting and conditioning a wooden cutting surface,such as wooden cutting boards, counter tops, and the like upon whichfoods are cut and handled. In this regard, the present invention isspecifically directed toward compositions and methods that can disinfectsuch surfaces, such that the same pose little, if any, threat oftransmitting pathogens present upon food items, and in particularpathogens present in raw or under-cooked meat and shellfish, whilesimultaneously preserving the look and quality of the wood surface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises a mixtureof food-grade mineral oil and ethanol, the latter being present in anamount sufficient to impart disinfecting properties. In this regard theuse of alcohol, and in particular ethanol, for use as a disinfectingagent is well-known and widely utilized. As shown in Table 1, the basictwo (2) components that comprise the invention and the respectivepercentages by volume thereof will encompass the following ranges:

TABLE 1 COMPONENTS PERCENT BY VOLUME Ethanol 40% to 99% Mineral Oil 60%to 01%

It is to be understood that the percentages of the two (2) componentsabove will total 100% by volume. If other materials are included in theformulation, the percentages of all ingredients will obviously total100% by volume.

The ethanol component preferably comprises commercially-available, highgrade ethyl alcohol, and may constitute such grades known in the art asgrain alcohol or high-purity alcohol. Due to the fact that thecompositions of the present invention may inadvertently be consumed byvirtue of the close proximity by which the same may be applied to fooditems, it is important to realize that such commercially-availablealcohol will be devoid of denaturants, such as methyl alcohol, pyridine,benzine, pine oil, benzene, and hydrogenated organic compounds,typically added to ethanol to ensure non-beverage/non-food usage.

The mineral oil component will likewise be of a high-grade,commercially-available variety. In this respect, it is important toemphasize that the mineral oil component must be suitable for humanconsumption due to the likelihood the composition will be applied inclose proximity to food items. Currently, it should be recognized thatfood grade mineral oil, while commercially available, it stillunregulated. Notwithstanding, any reputable food grade mineral oilcurrently available that may be procured commercially may be utilized inthe practice of the present invention.

In a more highly refined embodiment, there is shown in Table 2, therespective percentages by volume of the two (2) components of thecomposition of the present invention.

TABLE 2 COMPONENTS PERCENT BY VOLUME Ethanol 60% to 90% Mineral Oil 40%to 10%

As discussed above, both components, namely, the ethanol and mineral oilwill be of high-grade quality and suitable for human consumption.

In a most highly preferred embodiment, there is shown in Table 3 therespective percentage by volume of the two (2) components of the presentinvention:

TABLE 3 COMPONENTS PERCENT BY VOLUME Ethanol 65% to 85% Mineral Oil 35%to 15%

Again, both components will be of commercial, high-grade quality. Alongthese lines, with respect to the ethanol component, the same will be ofbeverage quality and devoid of any denaturants.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the composition ofthe present invention advantageously omits the use of any toxicchemicals typically found in most cleaning solutions for use asdisinfecting agents. Indeed, most cleaning preparations currently inuse, albeit effective, pose a threat in and of themselves by introducingtoxic, oxidizing agents that can and frequently do come into closeproximity to food that is ultimately consumed. In fact, it is common topractice throughly wash down a cutting board surface followingapplication of such conventional cleaning/disinfecting preparations tothus make the cutting surface safe for its intended use (i.e., foodcutting and preparation).

As will be recognized, the ethanol component is responsible forproviding the disinfectant properties of the composition of the presentinvention. As is well-known, ethyl alcohol has been widely used as adisinfecting agent. The mineral oil component, on the other hand,advantageously provides a mechanism for preserving and enhancing theappearance of the wood cutting board. As will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art, the mineral oil acts to lubricate and condition thewood surface such that the same does not dry out, which can cause thesame to assume an unsightly appearance over time. Indeed, because of thedrying effect imparted by most conventional cleaning agents, such woodensurfaces tend to become unsightly after only a few cleanings. Moreover,such drying effect is known to cause such wooden cutting surfaces tosplinter and wear down more rapidly over time. As such, the mineral oilcomponent, in addition to being non-toxic (not to mention edible),naturally provides a way to enhance the appearance of the cuttingsurface. As will be recognized, there has not hereto been available sucha composition capable of simultaneously performing such functions,namely, disinfection coupled with wood conditioning.

Although not essential, it is further contemplated that adjuvants may beadded to further enhance the performance or stabilize the basic two (2)component formulation. Representative examples include buffering agentsthat buffer within a desired pH range (e.g., pH 4-8), anti-oxidants,sequestering agents, preservatives, fragrances, flavor enchanters,and/of enhancers, and/or coloring agents. In some applications it mayeven be desired to include an additional anti-microbial agent. Likewise,as may be necessary to achieve a certain formulation, it is contemplatedthat water may additionally be added as a component, particularly withrespect to the ethanol component, to thus enable the same to remainpresent at a fixed amount of volume. Along these lines, it iscontemplated that water may be present in an amount from 2% up to 55% byvolume of the resultant compositions.

The method of using the composition of the present invention involvesapplying the aforementioned embodiments to the wooden cutting surfacesought to be treated. In this regard, it is believed that suchcomposition need only be sprayed or lightly misted upon the surfacesought to be treated and thereafter allowed to stand for approximately30 seconds. Alternatively, the composition may be poured upon suchwooden cutting surface and thereafter wiped or buffed. As will berecognized by those skilled in the art, due to the volatile nature ofethanol, coupled with the high concentration of such substance presentwithin the composition, great care must be taken to ensure the same doesnot come into contact with open flame or any other type of ignitingapparatus, such as lighters, gas stoves, and the like.

There has thus then provided a composition and method for disinfecting awooden cutting surface while simultaneously conditioning the same.Although the invention has been described herein with specific referenceto presently preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art that various additions, modifications,deletions, and alterations may be made to such embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, asopposed to a mineral oil, it is contemplated that other types of oilsuch as olive oil, vegetable oil, and other well-known cooking oils maypossibly be substituted thereinstead, which may thus impart the desiredwood-protecting properties. Accordingly, it is intended that allreasonably foreseeable additions, modifications, deletions, andalterations be included within the scope of the invention as defined inthe following claims.

1. A composition for simultaneously disinfecting and conditioning awooden cutting surface for cutting food consisting essentially of: a) afood-grade mineral oil present in an amount ranging from 10% to 40% byvolume of said composition; b) ethanol, said ethanol being present in anamount ranging from 60% to 90% by volume of said composition; and c)wherein said composition is edible and suitable for human consumption.2. The composition of claim 1 wherein: a) said mineral oil is present inan amount ranging from 15% to 35% by volume of said composition; and b)said ethanol present in an amount from 65% to 85% by volume by volume ofsaid composition.
 3. The composition of claim 1 further including anadjuvant selected from the group consisting of a buffering agent, ananti-oxidant, a sequestering agent, a fragrance, a flavor enhancer, anda coloring agent.
 4. The composition of claim 3 wherein said adjuvant isfurther selected from the group consisting of an anti-microbial agent.5. A method for simultaneously disinfecting and conditioning a woodencutting surface for cutting food, the method comprising of steps: a)providing an edible composition suitable for human consumptionconsisting essentially of mineral oil present in an amount ranging from10% to 40% by volume of the composition and ethanol present in an amountfrom 60% to 90% by volume of the composition; and b) contacting saidwooden surface with said composition provided for in step a).
 6. Themethod of claim 5 wherein in step a), said composition comprises: a)mineral oil present in an amount ranging from 15% to 35% by volume ofsaid composition; and b) said ethanol present in an amount from 65% to85% by volume of such composition.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein instep b), said composition is sprayed upon said wooden cutting surface.8. The method of claim 5 wherein in step b), said composition is pouredupon said wooden cutting surface.
 9. The composition of claim 1 furtherconsisting essentially of water.
 10. The composition of claim 1 whereinsaid composition further consists essentially of water present in anamount ranging from 2% to 55 % by volume of said composition.
 11. Themethod of claim 5 wherein in step a), said composition further consistsessentially of water.
 12. The method of claim 5 wherein in step a), saidcomposition further consists essentially of water present in an amountranging from 2 % to 55 % by volume of said composition.